• From: Seattle
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Topic: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

Could the boys address this 'debate' on the forum or in an upcoming episode? I realize the quote from Andy is speaking to the current use of motion capture, not what was used for LOTR, but Randall's response is really taking Andy to task for the work on LOTR so I'm not sure if there has been more bad blood between them leading up to this.

Also, beyond what was said in outstanding the LOTR ep.'s (I re-listen to them every few months--thanks!), your thoughts on how much of Gollum is due strictly to Andy's performance would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/motion-captu … 98868.html

http://animation.io9.com/lord-of-the-ri … /+riamisra

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  • Teague
  • Teague
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

Good idea for a topic, actually. We've discussed it here and there before. Might be time to revisit it.

In the meantime, we did an episode more-or-less just about this called "Mo-Cap Oscars?"

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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  • From: Seattle
  • Registered: 2013-12-05
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

Thanks--I thought I had listened to all the episodes (after I found the podcast because of the LOTR ep.'s) when I went back to Phantom and listened in order, but must have missed this.

And thanks, as always, for all the great entertainment y'all put out!!

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  • From: Kent, England
  • Registered: 2010-02-09
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

So animators object to being referred to as 'digital make-up artists', but I'd have thought that almost speaks to their disregard of make-up artists -  they do after all play a key role in helping actors create characters.

It also seems that a lot of it is extrapolation and exaggeration of what Andy Serkis has actually said.

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan

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  • From: Seattle
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

Wow, the trash talk about CGI in the LOTR's films from the players who made one of the greatest film trilogies ever has been turned up to 11.

http://www.themarysue.com/viggo-mortens … the-rings/

I do, however, completely agree with Viggo about the Hobbit movies. One of the reasons the LOTR's films will stand the test of time is the incredible use of practical effects augmented only when needed with CGI, but the Hobbit films almost never feel like they are real.

When Gandalf pulled out Glamdring in the ROTK and (with his staff) kicked some serious ass it had a visceral feel to it. But in the Goblin Cave fight scene in Hobbit #1 it looked like they directed Ian to run along a path and swing his sword, and they just animated golbins wherever Glamdring passed.

It's sad that at this point Peter has almost completely gone over to the dark side, and become George sad. Guillermo is sorely missed in Middle Earth...

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  • Registered: 2010-11-12
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

rockpapernukeitfromorbit wrote:

Wow, the trash talk about CGI in the LOTR's films from the players who made one of the greatest film trilogies ever has been turned up to 11.

http://www.themarysue.com/viggo-mortens … the-rings/

I do, however, completely agree with Viggo about the Hobbit movies. One of the reasons the LOTR's films will stand the test of time is the incredible use of practical effects augmented only when needed with CGI, but the Hobbit films almost never feel like they are real.

When Gandalf pulled out Glamdring in the ROTK and (with his staff) kicked some serious ass it had a visceral feel to it. But in the Goblin Cave fight scene in Hobbit #1 it looked like they directed Ian to run along a path and swing his sword, and they just animated golbins wherever Glamdring passed.

It's sad that at this point Peter has almost completely gone over to the dark side, and become George sad. Guillermo is sorely missed in Middle Earth...

I actually agree with Viggo about the effects in TT and ROTK. While I still love those movies, there's definitely a pretty big shift between Fellowship and them in terms of tone—the action gets more cartoony (Legolas's wild ride), and the VFX is far more over the top and less grounded. I think it mostly works—Helm's Deep and Pelennor Fields are obviously for the most part stunning, and the films they're in are still great—but Fellowship will always be my favorite in part because it's so much more grounded and feels a lot more like an actual other world than the other two films.

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  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-07-08
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Re: Andy Serkis 'vs' Randall William Cook

I think the spectacle of a lot of the CG in TTT and ROTK served the film greatly, and really helped make the trilogy as epic and grandiose as it is. On the other hand, I also love how FOTR doesn't feel quite as big as the others. We really hone in on Frodo's perspective, and his view of the world is very limited. We discover it as he does. Further into TTT, the cat starts to come out of the bag and the world opens up. 10,000 orcs attack Helms Deep. Giant talking trees flood Isengard. This is big stuff, and the CG was needed. Well, maybe not the silly Legolas acrobatics, but a lot of it.

LOTR may have been done at the perfect point, when PJ had enough technology to do it, but not so much that he could go over board with it like in his following films.

It's interesting to hear an honest take on how Viggo felt about it during production. I think he loved the project and was excited to be a part of it, as is evidenced in the DVD appendices, but I can imagine the concerns he and others may have had. Whenever I've seen a cast member asked in an interview, "Did you always know it was going to be something special?" it's always seemed like they really want to say yes, but they know deep down that they had no idea.

Last edited by Sam F (2014-05-15 18:29:12)

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